The Ford Barn

LEM · 04-18-2023, 06:12 PM

What are these three snaps installed on the interior roof of my ragtop used for? (1928 roadster)

Mike Peters · 04-18-2023, 06:24 PM

Your rear curtain will unfasten from the belt rail, fold up to to inside and fasten on those snaps you are asking about. You can run with the rear curtain raised on hot days.

mercman from oz · 04-19-2023, 04:32 AM

Snaps to clip the rear curtain and window on, to aid in ventilation and allow communication with the passengers in the Rumble Seat in Roadsters and Sports Coupes.

rotorwrench · 04-19-2023, 10:43 AM

They appear to be the proper Cinch studs. There were studs that have a threaded end and then there were ones that have four sharp prongs that penetrate the web and fit into a metal disk on the backside where the prongs are bent over to set them. These push button studs and the grommets that fit over them to secure the top material were nickel plated and are much harder to source in the modern era.

Sport Coupe models also had a rear curtain that can be secured in the up position in order to communicate with the rumble seat passengers or just get a good cross flow of ventilation

mcgarrett · 04-19-2023, 07:31 PM

Lucky guy! The restorer of my '30 Deluxe Roadster installed the straps with the snaps backwards!!

I'm hoping I can come up with a fix so that the rear curtain can be opened the way it should be. Might be an impossible job the way the straps are tacked under the hide-em strip.

MickyD · 04-19-2023, 08:38 PM

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I am just now installing my top on my 28 roadster. Glad I saw your picture of the snaps. Hope I can make mine look like that.

Entlebucher · 04-20-2023, 07:02 AM

Great Idea! The rear curtain on my 28 was nailed to a wooden rail behind the seat

LEM · 04-20-2023, 07:50 PM

Thanks to everyone for their input. I did check my top and I was wondering what the other snips on the back window flap was for, now I know thanks to all.

04-18-2023, 06:24 PM	#2
Mike Peters Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: South East Wisconsin Posts: 1,279	Re: Mysterious snaps Your rear curtain will unfasten from the belt rail, fold up to to inside and fasten on those snaps you are asking about. You can run with the rear curtain raised on hot days.

04-19-2023, 04:32 AM	#3
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,377	Re: Mysterious snaps Snaps to clip the rear curtain and window on, to aid in ventilation and allow communication with the passengers in the Rumble Seat in Roadsters and Sports Coupes.

04-19-2023, 10:43 AM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Mysterious snaps They appear to be the proper Cinch studs. There were studs that have a threaded end and then there were ones that have four sharp prongs that penetrate the web and fit into a metal disk on the backside where the prongs are bent over to set them. These push button studs and the grommets that fit over them to secure the top material were nickel plated and are much harder to source in the modern era. Sport Coupe models also had a rear curtain that can be secured in the up position in order to communicate with the rumble seat passengers or just get a good cross flow of ventilation Last edited by rotorwrench; 04-20-2023 at 06:44 PM.

04-19-2023, 07:31 PM	#5
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Waxahachie, Texas Posts: 949	Re: Mysterious snaps Lucky guy! The restorer of my '30 Deluxe Roadster installed the straps with the snaps backwards!! I'm hoping I can come up with a fix so that the rear curtain can be opened the way it should be. Might be an impossible job the way the straps are tacked under the hide-em strip.

04-19-2023, 08:38 PM	#6
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Re: Mysterious snaps Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I am just now installing my top on my 28 roadster. Glad I saw your picture of the snaps. Hope I can make mine look like that.

04-20-2023, 07:02 AM	#7
Entlebucher Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Switzerland Posts: 12	Re: Mysterious snaps Great Idea! The rear curtain on my 28 was nailed to a wooden rail behind the seat

04-20-2023, 07:50 PM	#8
LEM Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Everett, Wa Posts: 84	Re: Mysterious snaps Thanks to everyone for their input. I did check my top and I was wondering what the other snips on the back window flap was for, now I know thanks to all.